JR Merit was recognized at the recent AGC Oregon Columbia Chapter’s Annual Business Meeting for achieving the AGC Safety PRIDE Award. The PRIDE (Program Recognition Indicating Dedication & Excellence) award recognizes AGC members for their continuous improvement and innovative industry leadership in safety. It is one of AGC’s most difficult awards to achieve, with rigorous requirements and safety benchmarks to meet. We are proud of this one!

Ongoing Safety Improvements

A key factor in helping us achieve this prestigious award was conducting a company-wide Safety Perception Survey in September and October 2021 and then defining key improvement initiatives based on the feedback we received. In the 20-question survey, JR Merit employees offered feedback about JR Merit’s safety program. The results of the survey were positive and reflected our team’s universal commitment to supporting safety in the workplace. The survey helped us define three key safety improvement initiatives that we will be implementing this year:

Safety Improvement Initiative 1: Emphasizing training opportunities and making sure that all employees are participating.

Safety Improvement Initiative 2: Supporting Supervisors with conducting good Toolbox Talks and Job Safety Analysis discussions that interactively involve employees in safety related issues and topics.

Safety Improvement Initiative 3: Increasing communications about safety policies, procedures, concepts, and initiatives.

Above All Else

Health and safety are top considerations in everything that we do. The type of projects we work on involve challenging environments and heavy equipment—with higher risks comes the need for increased safety measures and awareness. Our Safety Committee and field leaders work hard to make sure that safety is always front of mind for every JR Merit and every project team member. We also encourage staff to recognize each other for supporting safe work habits or behaviors and/or identifying work hazards/risks or operational improvements—an employee recognized for their contributions can earn up to a $50 gift certificate to spend at JR Merit’s Pro Shop! Swag for safety is a pretty sweet deal!

Click here to learn more about our Health and Safety Program!